NameCensus.

UK surname

Hougham

An English habitational surname derived from any of several places named Hougham.

In the 1881 census there were 151 people recorded with the Hougham surname, ranking it #15,419 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 235, ranked #17,530, down from #15,419 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ash-near-Sandwich, Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry) and Wigston, Magna. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Canterbury and Rushmoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hougham is 273 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.6%.

1881 census count

151

Ranked #15,419

Modern count

235

2016, ranked #17,530

Peak year

2010

273 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hougham had 151 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,419 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016, ranked #17,530.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 235 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hougham surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hougham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hougham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hougham over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 113 #15,815
1861 historical 185 #12,799
1881 historical 151 #15,419
1891 historical 183 #15,918
1901 historical 173 #16,579
1911 historical 235 #13,484
1997 modern 234 #15,939
1998 modern 253 #15,547
1999 modern 262 #15,308
2000 modern 267 #15,055
2001 modern 255 #15,319
2002 modern 266 #15,156
2003 modern 244 #15,861
2004 modern 253 #15,583
2005 modern 253 #15,514
2006 modern 252 #15,642
2007 modern 248 #15,994
2008 modern 244 #16,346
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 273 #15,764
2011 modern 273 #15,606
2012 modern 264 #15,904
2013 modern 262 #16,273
2014 modern 253 #16,774
2015 modern 245 #17,040
2016 modern 235 #17,530

Geography

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Where Houghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ash-near-Sandwich, Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry), Wigston, Magna, Margate and St Lawrence in Thanet. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Canterbury and Rushmoor. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ash-near-Sandwich Kent
2 Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry) Kent
3 Wigston, Magna Leicestershire
4 Margate Kent
5 St Lawrence in Thanet Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Canterbury 014 Canterbury
2 Rushmoor 012 Rushmoor
3 Canterbury 010 Canterbury
4 Canterbury 003 Canterbury
5 Canterbury 002 Canterbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hougham

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hougham surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hougham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hougham, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Hougham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hougham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hougham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hougham is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hougham falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hougham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hougham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hougham

The surname HOUGHAM has its origins in England, specifically in the region of Yorkshire, and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hog" and "ham," where "hog" referred to a hill or ridge, and "ham" meant a homestead or village. This suggests that the name may have originated from a settlement or hamlet situated on a prominent hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name HOUGHAM can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already well-established in Yorkshire by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a Peter de Hougham, who was a prominent landowner and held estates in the village of Hougham, near Grindale, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. This place name is likely the source of the surname, as it was common practice for people to adopt surnames derived from the locations where they lived or held property.

Another notable figure with the surname HOUGHAM was William de Hougham, a 14th-century cleric who served as the Archbishop of Dublin from 1337 to 1349. He was born in Yorkshire and played an influential role in Irish ecclesiastical affairs during his tenure.

In the 15th century, a family by the name of HOUGHAM resided in the village of Hougham, near Grindale, and their presence is documented in various local records and manorial rolls from that time period.

During the 16th century, a John HOUGHAM (c. 1520-1585) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York. He was a member of the influential Company of Merchant Adventurers and served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1571.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname HOUGHAM was William HOUGHAM (1703-1770), who was a British naval officer and explorer. He is best known for his explorations and mapping of the coast of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands in the mid-18th century.

While the surname HOUGHAM is of English origin, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its roots and earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the Yorkshire region of England, where it likely originated from a place name referring to a settlement on a prominent hill or ridge.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hougham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hougham surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 103 Houghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.49x.

County Total Index
Kent 103 20.49x
Warwickshire 22 5.92x
Surrey 7 0.98x
Middlesex 6 0.41x
Essex 4 1.38x
Northamptonshire 4 2.89x
Cumberland 3 2.37x
Berkshire 1 0.90x
Lincolnshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ash Next Sandwich in Kent leads with 23 Houghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2072.07x.

Place Total Index
Ash Next Sandwich 23 2072.07x
Aston 22 21.51x
Acol 8 5333.33x
Nonington 8 2000.00x
Herne 7 313.90x
Ramsgate 7 85.37x
St Lawrence 7 202.31x
Deal 6 139.86x
Deptford St Paul 6 15.48x
Walmer 6 275.23x
Lambeth 5 3.89x
Margate St John Baptist 5 54.35x
Ospringe 4 645.16x
Preston Next Wingham 4 1739.13x
Wellingborough 4 57.39x
Wingham 4 689.66x
Crosscanonby 3 71.60x
Kensington London 3 3.66x
Leyton 3 59.88x
Staple 2 769.23x
Boston 1 13.99x
Camberwell 1 1.06x
Canterbury St Paul 1 111.11x
Dunkirk 1 270.27x
East Ham 1 18.52x
Hythe St Leonard 1 56.18x
Islington London 1 0.70x
Maidstone 1 6.68x
Penge 1 10.63x
Sandhurst 1 46.73x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.85x
St Nicholas At Wade 1 344.83x
Westminster St Margaret 1 14.06x
Woodnesborough 1 217.39x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hougham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hougham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 10
Edward 8
George 6
John 6
Thomas 6
Charles 5
James 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Alfred 1
Bertram 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.H. 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Gabriel 1
Horace 1
Michael 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Hougham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hougham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 151 people were recorded with the Hougham surname. That placed it at #15,419 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hougham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016. That gives Hougham a modern rank of #17,530.

What does the Hougham surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from any of several places named Hougham.

What does the Hougham map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hougham bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.